Baldwin City Beer Company

Baldwin City Beer Company

Microbrewery owner talks turning dream into reality, shares plans

Story by Bob Luder

Photos courtesy Baldwin City Beer Company

Chances are, Baldwin City residents had their curiosity piqued while driving past the corner of Sixth and High streets last fall. Why was that big white tent sitting in the middle of the parking lot of a closed antiques bazaar? There must have been something of interest happening underneath because it seemed as though crowds gathering inside the big top grew by the day, certainly weekend to weekend. Turns out, it was Cory Venable getting a jump-start on his dream. Venable, who had worked in insurance, and his wife, Jenni, envisioned the Baldwin City Beer Company while home-brewing beer from a one-barrel system in their home as a diversion from the Covid-19 lockdown. When Antiques on the Prairie, an antiques consignment store that had been at the location since 2000, closed last July, a suitable building became available, and Venable knew the time was right to move ahead with his vision.

Only, the pandemic had other ideas. Venable expected construction to begin toward the end of last summer, but supply and labor issues forced what seemed like a never-ending series of delays. However, nothing could stop Venable from getting a running start on his new business. He took advantage of the large parking lot out front and pitched his tent. After installing TVs, space heaters, and tables, he sold commercial beer—no microbrews just yet—and kept locals entertained throughout the fall.

“The intent was to have the tent for the Maple Leaf Festival (typically in October),” Venable says. “But, we kept it up after Maple Leaf and through November ... as just a regular bar. It grew into a really popular spot downtown.”

The tent has finally come down, and a permanent Baldwin City Beer Company is now in the works. Venable says he sees a silver lining in all the delays because he’s been working with a welder friend of his to expand what he originally envisioned as a threebarrel brewing system into a seven-barrel brew house.

The 7,800-square-foot building, which already comes with a built-in commercial kitchen, gives him plenty of space. Venable plans a large outdoor patio with a pair of garage doors that can be opened in good weather to lead into the expansive indoor area. The west side of the building will be an event space that can be rented out for parties and receptions. When not in use, it can be used as overflow seating in addition to the approximately 100 permanent seats.

Venable says there will be a lot of glass dividers so that patrons can see into the brewing facility from the front bar and event space. “It’s a very versatile space,” he says. “Overall, I think we’ll be able to seat 150 to 200 people.” Venable plans to start out brewing five “base” beers—an imperial pale ale, wheat, cream ale, stout and pale ale.

“The plan is to expand up to 10 beers within the first year,” he says. “We’ll start making more seasonal [beers], like Oktoberfest’s. Even though I’ve been brewing beer for over a year now, I plan to bring in a brewmaster and work alongside.”

In addition to beer, Baldwin City Beer Company will offer pub food such as house pretzels, onion rings, and chicken wings; the menu’s centerpiece, though, will be barbecue, including pulled pork brisket, burnt ends and ribs.

The opening of a new brewery speaks to the growth the town has seen since being deemed a part of Kansas Main Street community.

“The addition of a new brewery in Baldwin City is a representation of everything that is evolving in our downtown Main Street Arts and Cultural Center,” says chamber of commerce executive director Lori Trojan. “Cory and Jenni Venable are dedicated and passionate about bringing economic vitality to our downtown. They will not just create great craft beers but promise epic barbeque as well. The brewery will also provide an event space, live music and more that will attract locals, students and visitors.”

Venable says he’s especially excited about the Sixth and High location on the eastern edge of the downtown square.

“There’s significant traffic through there,” he says. “The town remembers that building from when it was originally the C&D Super Foods grocery store. There’s a familiarity about it.”

Venable also notes he expects to bring in visitors from surrounding areas such as Kansas City, Lawrence and Topeka.

“I’m not sure you can call Baldwin City a tourist town, but it is. I think we’re going to be able to offer a versatile menu to bring people down. We’ll have live music, standup comedy … there are a lot of unique offerings we can have at the events space,” Venable says. “I know we’re going to get a lot of eyes on us.”

Venable says he’s hoping for an early summer opening.

“That’ll give us time to get settled before the first big event—the Maple Leaf Festival next fall,” he says.

Visit the Baldwin City Beer Company’s Facebook page to stay up to date with its progress and opening day announcements.